On Tuesday, September 18th the volleyball team had their first league game against Frontier, one of the more competitive teams. Orchard Park came out slow and ended up losing the first 2 sets of the game. The 3rd set was a different story. They dominated Frontier throughout the 3rd and showed their true potential for the season, despite Frontier winning 3-1. However, it’s hard to beat the same team three times in a row, so OP shouldn’t be discouraged about its chances.
There are only 5 returning seniors and 3 returning juniors, along with a few new add-ons to the team. While some of these boys have been playing together for years, new additions to the team mean new lineups, which take time to get used to. The team has started the 2024 Season with many struggles in the first few games but has shown true potential in many of the matches.
“The team is experiencing some bumps and bruises as they are learning how to play and compete in the 2024 season … The team at times has shown some serious upside/potential, but finding that consistency is what eludes this team currently. As the guys continue to play and practice with each other, they should be able to build a relationship on and off the court that would help them come together as a team,” said Boys Varsity Volleyball coach Mr. Albano.
Over the last few years, the team has been a dominant force, winning multiple Section titles and being the #1 seed consistently in their league and was ranked #2 in the State with all the talent in the world to win the State Championship. However, they had fallen way short of expectations, losing to Clarence in the 2023 Section Championship after having a 2-0 set lead. Thirteen seniors graduated, and now the team is undergoing a complete rebuilding.
The 2024 starting roster consists of many tall, talented players who are slowly developing with each other and building back the team’s reputation. The starting six are Jake Nellis (6’2), Wyatt Killock (6’4), Jake Zelasko (5’11), Will Shimert (6’3), Will Skinner (6’4) and Griffin Bowersox (5’10).
After the start of the season, many seem to be counting Orchard Park out since the loss of 13 seniors. Time heals, and Orchard Park Volleyball will develop and become the powerhouse they once were. The boys won’t just roll over and die.
